so i have a screened in porch and raccoons have torn through the screen to get onto the porch. my cats are out there occasionally and i bring their food in at night, but usually i'm gone one night out of the week and i have to leave a bowl of food down...so other then never leaving a bowl of food down what are some things i can do to keep them off....is there anything that would deter them...somebody suggested black pepper...suggestions please.
2007-12-08 13:24:11 · 14 answers · asked by saraJ 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
As long as there is food available, they will return. Black pepper will not deter them. Mothballs and amonia do nothing but poison your own environment. You could live-trap and relocate them, but *PLEASE NOTE* many states require a license or special permit to live-trap and relocate, especially when dealing with any animal that might be a vector for rabies.
Also, shooting them, as someone else suggested, is not a legal option, unless you are a licensed hunter taking them in the approved manner in the proper season, and NOT within city limits.
Here is a website from the city of Denver that has good info on raccoon control: http://www.denvergov.org/AnimalControl/Wildlife/Wildlife5/tabid/377864/Default.aspx
2007-12-08 13:39:43 · answer #1 · answered by margecutter 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Cry23456 gives some excellent advice, as do others. Is beneficial because no harm to the animals and is also thinking of the Moms with young.
They would surely be orphaned if not captured with the adults.
Anyone can purchase "Have A Heart"live traps or maybe borrow one from the local game warden, depends on where you live.
The game warden/Conservation Agent may even release the animals elsewhere in the wild for you.
Raccoons are one of the highest carriers of the Rabies Virus.
Keep garbage in sturdy cans w/raccoon proof lids.
Clean up excess wild bird food/pet food that is lying around. Keep the domestic pet food inside at all times.
Raccoons are very intelligent and will find ways to get what they want.
If releasing the animals back into the wild yourself, take them at least 5 miles away from homes-but near a stream.
Best of Luck to you.
2007-12-08 13:55:08 · answer #2 · answered by kriend 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They hate moth balls. That can keep them away, but taking the food bowls up is a good idea.
If worse comes to worse, borrow a live trap, bait it with cat food and when you catch a raccoon take him at least 4 miles away and release him in an area that has a river. I had to move 6 this year because they'd turned aggressive to the stray cats.
2007-12-08 13:27:38 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If you leave a radio on out there, that will make it so they will be scared and not come up on the porch. Also, if you leave some crumbled newspaper, when the racoon steps on the paper, he then will get scared and leave, I do this trick in my sweet corn and it works (except when it gets wet). If all these tricks don't work, the shotgun will! I'm just kidding. Good luck with these pesky animals!
2007-12-08 13:35:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Set up a sophisticated trap. My friend had the same issue with coons killing his fish in his fish pond. He would trap them and release them far away. If you're up for it, I suggest a pellet gun, but watch out. Those critters sometimes won't back down from a fight.
2007-12-12 08:38:36 · answer #5 · answered by Andre 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well what we did (we had outside cats too) set out cages trapes and put 3 small medium and large for babys and the mother thats why there there because of there mom or a parent raccoon and we set it a good distance away from where the cats usally go so they dont get beat up by them or anything and we put food (fruits) in the back of the cage and we caught a good amount of them and........No problem any more we had animale conrol take them away
2007-12-08 13:31:08 · answer #6 · answered by <3 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Set a trap, catch it and take it to the woods to set free. You can have a professional do this too. Can you feed the cat at another time? I'd hate to hear the cat and racoon fighting because the cat will loose.
2007-12-08 13:28:09 · answer #7 · answered by FL Sunshine 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
raccoons are pretty savvy. You are lucky they haven't killed your cats. Your cats will be mad at you, but, let them fast that one night. Soon the coons will quit expecting food there and leave your screens alone.
2007-12-08 13:29:34 · answer #8 · answered by T C 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is a product I found on line:
Shake-Away Large Animal Powder uses the scent of the coyote to take advantage of the raccoon’s inborn, instinctive fear of its rival, driving the pest from your property.
Good luck!
2007-12-08 13:32:52 · answer #9 · answered by KyLoveChick 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I have nerve not to have an answer. But better than the skunk that I have a problem with. And I live right next to the city where it is unthinkable to have a skunk.
2007-12-08 13:28:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋